Radio frequency transmyocardial revascularization

Abstract

An RF activated catheter apparatus for performing transmyocardial revascularization. The catheter apparatus including an elongate catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, the distal end including an RF emitter which is coupled to an RF generator for cutting channels into the myocardium of a patient's heart.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of performing transmyocardial revascularization comprising the steps of: providing a radio frequency catheter apparatus including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   the radio frequency catheter being coupled to a radio frequency generator;   advancing the distal end of the catheter to a patient's heart;   perfusing a contrast media through the radio frequency catheter to the patients heart;   identifying an area of the patient's heart which is adjacent to a stagnant pool of the contrast media thereby diagnosing the location of a candidate region of the patient's heart;   further advancing the distal end of the catheter to the candidate region of the patient's heart; and   activating the radio frequency generator to deliver radio frequency energy to the distal end of the radio frequency catheter to begin boring a crater into the patient's heart.   
     
     
       2. A method of performing transmyocardial revascularization, comprising the steps of: providing a radio frequency catheter apparatus including an elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal tip, and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;   the radio frequency catheter being coupled to a radio frequency generator;   advancing the distal tip of the catheter to a patient's heart;   perfusing a contrast media through the radio frequency catheter to the distal tip of the radio frequency catheter thereby delivering the contrast media to the patient's heart;   further advancing the distal tip of the catheter to an area of the patient's heart adjacent to a stagnant pool of the contrast media; and   activating the radio frequency generator to deliver radio frequency energy to the distal tip of the radio frequency catheter to begin boring a crater into the patient's heart.   
     
     
       3. A method of performing transmyocardial revascularization, comprising the steps of: providing a radio frequency catheter apparatus including an elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal tip, and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;   the proximal portion of the radio frequency catheter including a Y-adapter having a side arm containing a contrast media;   the radio frequency catheter being coupled to a radio frequency generator;   advancing the distal tip of the catheter to a patient's heart;   perfusing the contrast media contained in the side arm through the radio frequency catheter to the distal tip of the radio frequency catheter thereby delivering the contrast media to the patient's heart;   further advancing the distal tip of the catheter to an area of the patient's heart adjacent to a stagnant pool of the contrast media; and   activating the radio frequency generator to deliver radio frequency energy to the distal tip of the radio frequency catheter to begin boring a crater into the patient's heart.